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There is a possibility I may be working short term in the Lafayette area. And was wondering if Walnut Creek was culturally diverse? I would prefer to live in an area that was safe for a female and gay friendly-- maybe Oakland but from what I've read it looks like the morning commute is awful. Any input?

Walnut Creek is fine. While it's no SF, it is still part of the bay area, and most who live there commute to SF anyways. Danville, San Ramon and blah-ish suburbs down in 680 corridor valley are a bit more conservative but Walnut Creek is not that much. People come to Walnut Creek from all around to shop and it has an incredible restaurant scene so it's a bit more happening in that area. You will find others who are gay friendly and openly gay. Walnut Creek is diverse enough.

The commute from Oakland to Lafayette is a mess because of the tunnel. They are working on a fourth bore as we speak. If it's short term, live in Walnut Creek or Lafayette.

It's fine for gays, nobody will really care unless you stick out like a sore thumb for some reason. Plenty of gay people live here. Not sure what you mean by "gay friendly" but it obviously doesn't cater to them like the Castro or something. There is a gay bar off Civic Dr. Overall it's not a discriminatory place when it comes to gays.

Thanks for the info! I simply want to avoid a "conservative" city that may be closed minded if a group of women or a couple wanted to enjoy a cup of coffee or go to a movie. I've been to cities where the vibe was definitely not "gay friendly." So it's good to know WC is similar to Oakland, etc. I'm not big on the bar scene. But thank you for all the input!!

Great information, thanks! I would rather live in a more affordable & safe area for a single female. What is the commute like from Pleasant Hill to Lafayette? Are you speaking about "rapes" of ones pocket book?

Great information, thanks! I would rather live in a more affordable & safe area for a single female. What is the commute like from Pleasant Hill to Lafayette? Are you speaking about "rapes" of ones pocket book?

Walnut Creek is safer than Pleasant Hill (not that there's ANYTHING to fear there either ).

In addition, there's more going on in WC, it's just a bigger city with restaurants, a bit of nightlife, bars, shopping, arts center, etc. which would make it more desirable for someone your age. Both are extremely safe communities. Pleasant Hill is nice but better for families with kids and somewhat sleepy overall. Ignore the strange post above regarding rapes. Easy enough to read poster's prior postings and get the gist of their "outlook" on the world.

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